Claim: Circulating WhatsApp message claims inhaling steam at 50 degree centigrade will kill coronavirus through the nose.

Verdict:

Misleading. No scientific backup to this claim

Full Text 

A circulating WhatsApp message claims that inhaling steam at 50 degree will kill coronavirus. The message holds further that at 50 degree, the virus becomes so weak that any human immunity system can fight against it and at 70 degree the virus dies completely.

The WhatsApp message reads; “Important Message for all: The hot water you drink is good for your throat. But this coronavirus is hidden behind the paranasal sinus of your nose for 3 to 4 days. The hot water we drink does not reach there. After 4 to 5 days this virus that was hidden behind the paranasal sinus reaches your lungs. Then you have trouble breathing.”

“That's why it is very important to take steam, which reaches the back of your paranasal sinus. You have to kill this virus in the nose with steam.

"At 50°C, this virus becomes disabled i.e. paralyzed. At 60°C this virus becomes so weak that any human immunity  system can fight against it  At 70°C this virus dies completely. This is what steam does”, the WhatsApp message added.

The message continues by claiming that public health departments are aware of the efficacy of steam but insinuating that people take advantage of the pandemic, thereby neglecting the efficacy of inhaling steam which is why the information is not shared openly.

Author of the message further directs readers to observe steam week which will take place from December 14 to 20 and spend at least five minutes inhaling in the  morning and evening:

“If you go to the market to buy  vegetables, take it twice a day. Anyone who meets some people or goes to office should take steam 3 times a day. According to doctors, Covid -19 can be killed by inhaling steam from the nose and mouth, eliminating the Coronavirus.  If all the people started a steam drive campaign for a week, the pandemic will soon end.  So here is a suggestion. If all adopt this practice for a week  the deadly. Covid-19 will be erased.”

The message further directs users to forward to friends and relatives as the practice has no side effects either.

Verification

On a first look, the message lacks proper information to help readers. For instance, the post says steam but did not categorically point out if it is hot water or what kind of steam.

Secondly, the message demanded readers buy plenty of vegetables but did not state the type of vegetable as there are many types of vegetable

Also, the message gave no  information on the said doctor that recommended the inhaling of steam as COVID-19 cure, and in the country health department was not mentioned as well.

Dr. Subrahmanyam Krishnaswamy, member of Hoaxbusting Team of Indian Scientists Response to COVID19 in a Youtube video, said steam does not reach the lungs or cells of the upper respiratory tract; rather, it damages the cell if inhaled too long.

"Do not inhale steam; it is not good. The Virus can be killed at greater than 50degree centigrade.

Indian First online Fact-checking organization, Boom Live, an organization certified by the International FactChecking Network also on July 21, 2020  shared Dr. Krishnaswamy post debunking the use of steam as a cure for COVID-19

Further search led Dubawa to a post by the African Region of the World Health Organization on inhaling steam as a cure for COVID. WHO debunked the rumour that inhaling steam " does not cure COVID-19, rather it causes serious burns".

Recently, there are several reports of the accepted COVID-19 vaccine of which the Nigerian Minister for Health, Osagie Ehanire, says the government is working towards getting 20 million dozens of WHO-certified vaccine.

However, prior to the COVID-19 vaccine, the WHO did not recommend inhaling of steam as cure for COVID-19, rather the health experts have usually advised that people wear a nose mask, avoid crowded places, wash hands frequently or use an alcohol-based sanitizer to avoid the spread.

Conclusion

With evidence gathered, inhaling steam does not cure COVID-19.

The researcher produced this article per the Dubawa 2020 Fellowship partnership with Today95.1Fm, Port Harcourt to facilitate the ethos of “truth” in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country.